Hollande, Mali PM call for UN meeting on international force

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday called for the U.N. Security Council to meet urgently to approve Mali's call for an African-led force to help flush out armed Islamist rebels. "It has come time for the international community to come to the assistance of Mali. The time has come," he told a high-level meeting on the mounting humanitarian crisis in the west African region of the Sahel. "France demands a meeting of the U.N. Security Council as soon as possible" to discuss Mali's request "for a stabilization force to seize back the territory in northern Mali." Mali's Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra urged the Council to agree to the formation of the international military force to help oust the Islamist rebels in its north. "We request the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution authorizing under Chapter 7 of the Charter the setting up of an international military force, one which would be composed of all those willing and able to us reconquer occupied territories in the north of our country," he told the high-level talks. Opening the talks, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon Wednesday urged world leaders "not to abandon" the Sahel region, but urged that calls for military intervention should be discussed carefully. "The region needs your attention, your focus. Do not abandon it and regret it later," Ban said. "The Sahel is at a critical juncture. Political turmoil, extreme climatic conditions and fragile economies are combining to create a perfect storm of vulnerability," Ban said. But he warned: "Any proposed military solution to the security crisis in northern Mali should be considered extremely carefully." The Sahel, is a vast area of west Africa spreading across some eight countries, including Mali, Niger, Chad and Nigeria. Chaos erupted in Mali in March when military putschists seized power in the capital, ousting President Amadou Toumani Toure, only to see the north and east fall to Tuareg rebels and Islamist militias linked to al-Qaida. Mali has sent a letter to the United Nations formally seeking authorization for a West African-led military force.